Reno Omokri, a former presidential advisor, has encouraged the opposition to unite and aid President Bola Tinubu in his efforts to quell the turmoil in the Niger Republic.
Omokri commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), headed by Tinubu, for cutting off electricity, establishing a No-Fly Zone, and closing land borders as a means of demonstrating its will to safeguard democracy in the troubled nation.
In his opinion, the strict measures are already having an impact on the coup plotters, and this is what is causing the anti-Tinubu protests in Niamey.
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Omokri continued by saying that Burkina Faso and Mali would still have democratically elected governments if former President Muhammadu Buhari had been similarly assertive in upholding democracy.
Speaking via Instagram, he wrote, “No matter what you think of President Tinubu, you must admit that the steps taken by his administration in response to the coup in Niger Republic are thus far commendable. It may not even be Tinubu. It is more likely his top notch National Security Adviser, but it does not matter. At least, he had the good judgment to appoint him.
“For the first time, ECOWAS is asserting itself to defend democracy. And Nigeria is leading that defence. Shutting down power to Niger, establishing and enforcing a No-Fly-Zone. Cutting aid and shutting land borders. Very commendable.
“And make no mistake about it. The Nigerienne putschists are feeling the squeeze. That is why they are sponsoring anti-Tinubu protests in Niamey. That is important. They are not sponsoring anti-Bazoum protests. They are sponsoring anti-Tinubu demonstrations because they know he threatens their dictatorial ambitions. That is novel in West Africa.
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“If Buhari had been as diplomatically assertive as this, there would still be democratically elected governments in Burkina Faso and Mali.
“Every Nigerian citizen, especially our political elite, whether in the ruling party or the opposition, has to support Tinubu’s government for this limited purpose (we will still fight him in court). Because if this coup is allowed to stand, West Africa will have accepted the domino effect of coups and soldiers in member states will get the message. Finding excuses for coups is the easiest thing in the world.
“It is possible to roll back coups. President Obasanjo did it in 2003 in São Tomé and Príncipe, a country that is not even a member of ECOWAS. And he did it in a similar mode as Bola Tinubu is currently doing.
“Shut electric supply. Shut finances going in and out. Block land borders. And then wait. The solidarity celebrations you are seeing are staged. By the time it becomes clear that the junta cannot pay its soldiers, the rank and file of the army will turn against it, and that is when you will see the real response of Nigeriennes to the coup. Not this choreography you are seeing now!”
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